Holiday apartment in Panarea – Volcanic Landscape and Archaeology

Panarea is one of the seven islands of the Aeolian archipelago. It is the smallest and lowest of these seven islands and, at the same time, the oldest geologically. Together with the surrounding rocks and islets between Lipari and Stromboli, Panarea forms a kind of archipelago within the archipelago. Volcanic landforms, protected nature and evidence of settlement dating back a long way characterize the island’s various facets.

Nature

The Riserva Naturale Isola di Panarea e Scogli Viciniori nature reserve has been established on Panarea as an oriented nature reserve and, in the area of the surrounding rocks, as an integral nature reserve. Its geosites include the fumaroles and mineral deposits of Calcara. Along suitable paths, visitors can observe the Mediterranean maquis characteristic of Panarea, with tree heath, mastic shrubs, strawberry trees, myrtle, Montpellier rockroses, white rockroses, as well as fragrant and thorny broom.

According to UNESCO, the volcanic landforms of the Aeolian Islands are classic examples for the ongoing study of volcanology. In Panarea’s underwater crater and along the rim of the caldera, gases continuously escape at shallow depths, forming impressive curtains of bubbles. In the Calcara area, too, vapors and gases emerge from the rocks and seabed, forming columns of bubbles visible at the surface. At a depth of more than 70 meters, the recently discovered site „The Smoking Land“ consists of numerous hydrothermal vents that emit acidic fluids at high temperatures.

Culture

The prehistoric village near Punta Milazzese is located on a Tyrrhenian marine terrace at the upper edge of a steep coast on the southern side of Panarea. In the small center of San Pietro, there is a branch of the Museo archeologico di Lipari. Finds documenting Panarea’s history from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age are displayed there. The first exhibition room of the Museo Archeologico Luigi Bernabo Brea also presents the island’s geological, volcanological and natural-history aspects, as well as its historical chronology.

Panarea–Basiluzzo is designated in Sicily as an underwater archaeological trail or underwater archaeological route.

Paths and Mobility

Cala Junco can be reached via a panoramic path. Cala degli Zimmari is Panarea’s only sandy beach and is known for its reddish sand. Cars are not permitted on Panarea; however, scooters, bicycles and Ape cars can be rented for getting around the island.

Panarea’s two other districts, Drautto and Ditella, can be reached on foot or by Aeolian taxis. These are wheeled carriages used to transport people and luggage. A thermal spring with a temperature of up to around 50 °C rises in Contrada San Pietro and is used by the islanders for therapeutic purposes.

You can access further destinations using this selection: Alì Terme, Cesarò, Ginostra, Alicudi Porto, Savoca, Calavà, Scaletta Marina, Acquacalda.

To the higher-level travel overview: Messina.